A Southern California real estate agent has been sentenced to probation, community service, and ethics training after attempting to price gouge a couple who lost their home in the Eaton Fire.
The agent, Mike Kobeissi, must also pay $20,000 into a disaster relief fund and issue a letter of apology to the victims, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The California Department of Justice launched an investigation into Kobeissi following a complaint from the evacuated couple. They detailed their attempt to rent a home after Governor Gavin Newsom issued an emergency order designed to protect fire victims from price gouging.
The investigation revealed that after the couple applied to rent a La Cañada Flintridge home listed by Kobeissi, they were informed the rent had increased by 38 percent, leading them to decline the rental.
Kobeissi's sentence, handed down in Superior Court, includes 12 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory professional ethics course through the National Association of Realtors.
Attorney General Bonta issued a strong warning to others who might exploit vulnerable individuals.
"As I have said repeatedly, price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal," Bonta stated.
"May this announcement serve as a stern warning to those who would seek to further victimize those who have lost everything. My office is aggressively and relentlessly pursuing those who are trying to make a quick buck off someone else's pain."
